A taste of the tropics is coming to the desert this spring.
From April 16-19, tiki lovers from all over the world will converge at Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. They’ll dance, drink and experience the tiki lifestyle at Arizona Tiki Oasis, an event rooted in post-war tiki resort traditions from the 1960s. Tickets for the annual meet-up range from $165-$350 and benefit the Arizona Preservation Foundation.
We chatted with Otto von Stroheim and Baby Doe, the husband-and-wife producer team behind Arizona Tiki Oasis, to preview the revelry.
What about Arizona Tiki Oasis captivates guests?
Baby Doe: We’ve curated a unique experience, and we bring in DJs and bands from other locations as well as artists. We have a marketplace of over 60 vendors that are artists from all over the U.S., and then we also have seminars. We have opportunities for people to learn about anything, from historic preservation to mid-century modern [design and style] and learning how to make cocktails, learning how to do a pinup hairstyle… You get to experience something a little different that’s sort of hand-selected and curated.
How many of your visitors aren’t locals?
BD: We actually have a lot of people that find us [from] out of state. So, we have people that travel in from all over the world and a lot of people from California, Washington, Oregon… all over the U.S. that come out for this event.
What types of art are sold at your marketplace?
BD: We have vintage clothing, but we also have a lot of artists that are making tiki art today or mid-century modern art. So, that could be tiki mugs, ceramics, it could be carved tikis, it could be jewelry, it could be fine art and fine paintings, it could be lamps – people are super into making wall-hangings and lamps that you could actually hang in your [own] tiki bar. We have a wide variety. A lot of it is focused on the artisans that are in the style of tiki or mid-century modern.
What’s the culture like at Arizona Tiki Oasis?
Otto von Stroheim: It’s inclusive… in a natural, organic way.
BD: There’s sort of something for everybody. People can make their own experience and their own journey at the event. They can party all night if they want, or they can wake up early at the crack of dawn and go to seminars and do yoga by the pool.
What keeps guests coming back year after year?
BD: Sometimes people will show up and they’re like, “Oh, I only have one Hawaiian shirt,” you know? They show up on day one and then by the end of the weekend they’re like, “OK, I just bought three more shirts at the marketplace and my wife got a caftan and a hair flower, and next year we’re gonna bring our dog and dress him up in outfits so he can be a part of the pup parade.” That’s a typical thing that happens. If somebody’s not into it [initially], by the end, they’re completely sold. It’s just fun, it’s a good experience…. you’re not judged when you’re at this event. You don’t have to wear the perfect shoes or the perfect shirt. As long as you have the aloha spirit, you’ll have a good time.
